Research Update OTF Meeting March 3 2015 The need for long-term - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Research Update

OTF Meeting March 3 2015

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1 2 3 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910 1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Normal

(1981-2010)

Ottawa mean annual temperature deviation from normal (⁰C)

The need for long-term data

Timeframe of most environmental monitoring programs

Zebra mussels first detected in great lakes in late 80’s Nutrient enrichment started to take off in the 50’s and 60’s

• Needed to know the magnitude and speed by which humans

have altered ecosystems

• Needed to set realistic restoration targets

Research component of the OTF

Top Bottom

Present day Pre-1850 Historical conditions

• Regional assessment of phosphorus and algal change in 20

lakes Research questions: 1) How much have phosphorus and algae concentrations changed from “natural” conditions?

Research component of the OTF

Research questions: 2) What are the important controls on algal and macrophyte abundance in eastern Ontario?

Research component of the OTF

• Spatial survey of 20 lakes in the RVCA and MVCA watersheds (10 lakes in year 1 and 10

lakes in year 2)

• Lakes were selected over a nutrient gradient
• Study lakes includes those with and without zebra mussels
• Study lakes are part of the CA monitoring programs

Research component of the OTF Research component of the OTF

Research questions: 3) Is climate warming related to increased algae and macrophytes?

• Detailed sediment core analysis of 3 lakes
• Lakes will be selected over a nutrient gradient
• Study lakes will have similar size, mean depth, and be part of the CA monitoring

program

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Present day Pre-1850 Historical conditions Compare inferred TP and algal concentrations in core to historical climate and land use data and the timing of the introduction of invasive species

Mosque Malcolm Shabomeka Clayton Bennett Dalhousie Big Gull Kashwakamak Pine Sharbot (East basin) Bobs (Green Bay) Burridge Crosby Bobs (Buck Bay) Christie Otty Long Pond Tommy (not sampled yet) Adam Upper Rideau

20 study lakes

73 lakes were cored

• 19 of the 20 study lakes have been cored (no

core obtained from Tommy lake)

• 4 Honours students are working on this

project (Diatom IDs complete, data is starting to be analyzed)

• Alex Crew
• Emily Barrie
• Sharon Odongo
• Kathryn Sweet

Sediment core analysis

10 20 30 40 50 10 20 30 40 50

Cyclotella spp. Bottom sediment (~pre-1850) relative abundance Top sediment (present day) relative abundance

10 20 30 40 50 60 10 20 30 40 50 60

Aulacoseria spp Bottom sediment (~pre-1850) relative abundance Top sediment (present day) relative abundance

RVCA Top-Bottom study

• Fairly modest change in species assemblages
• Some evidence for nutrient enrichment

(very preliminary data)

20 15 10 5

Otty Lake

Depth (cm)

Cyclotella Asterionella

10

Amphora

10

Navicula

10

Achnanthes

10 30

Aulacoseira

10 30 50 70

Fragillaria

6000

(Very preliminary diatom data at the genus level)

• Dominated by small benthic species
• Relatively little change species

assemblage

• Some indication of nutrient

enrichment near the top of the core but work still needs to be done Relative abundance

Macrophyte and algae analysis

• 7 study lakes have been sampled
• Samples are currently being analyzed
• Macrophyte biovolume assessed using echosounder
• Colonial algae noted during sampling along with presence of

invasive macrophytes

Macrophyte Sampling

Light limited Disturbance limited DMMB

Increasing Biomass Increasing Water Depth

plants plants

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 2 4 6 8 10 12

Depth (m) Average plant biovolume

Otty Lake submerged aquatic vegetation

Mosque Lake submerged aquatic vegetation

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 2 4 6 8 10 12

Depth (m) Average plant biovolume

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00%

0-1m 1-2m 2-3m 3-4m 4-5m 5-6m 6-7m 7-8m 8-9m >9m

Otty Sharbot Mosque Adams Shabomeka

Percent Area Covered by Macrophytes

Average area covered (%) Water depth (m)

Percent Biovolume of Macrophytes (% of water column

• ccupied by plants)

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00% 0-1m 1-2m 2-3m 3-4m 4-5m 5-6m 6-7m 7-8m 8-9m >9m

Otty Sharbot Mosque Adams Shabomeka Biovolume (%) Water depth (m)

Orchard lake, Wisconsin

2011 2012 2013 2014 4-year Average

Plant Biovolume over 4 years

4-year Average

• Deviation from “normal”
• Natural fluctuation in habitat
• The role of climate in driving changes

Citizen Water Watch: Website and Smart phone App

Purpose: 1) Engage community (including youth) in monitoring the health of lakes and rivers 2) Communication tool: Both between us and the lake users but also among the lake users Where we are: 1) We own the domain name “citizenwaterwatch.ca” (needs to be renewed on an annual basis) 2) Website was up and running last summer (made in Drupal) 3) An Android App is almost up and running and should be available for download in May?

Citizen Water Watch: Website and Smart phone App

Purpose: 1) Engage community (including youth) in monitoring the health of lakes and rivers 2) Communication tool: Both between us and the lake users but also among the lake users Where we are: 1) We own the domain name “citizenwaterwatch.ca” (needs to be renewed on an annual basis) 2) Website was up and running last summer (made in Drupal) 3) An Android App is almost up and running and should be available for download in May? Work for this Year: 1) Make the website more engaging: Move to a blog style format with frequent updates and allow registered users to post on certain pages? 2) Move the website from a Drupal format to Wordpress? 3) Get the Android App up and running (An iPhone App is beyond the timeframe and budget of the project)

Smart phone App (Android)

Thank you